Morning of shame...

At breakfast:

"Hey Mom. Have you been eating my candy bars from Halloween?"  asks the youngest, sitting up to the table.

"Hmm? Why?" I ask in a muffled voice. I'm facing the coffee pot, trying not to let chocolate crunch bars fall out of my mouth..

"Because when I was getting my shoe, I saw a bunch of chocolate wrappers by your bed."

Thinking as quickly as I could, I turn and ask, "Why would your shoes be in MY bedroom?"

"Just answer the question, mom." teases the middle child.

"Aren't you late for the bus?" I lovingly remind him.

"Mom! Are you eating candy in your room? You said we had to leave it downstairs! You said we could only have two pieces each day! Halloween just happened! There are wrappers all over!" says the youngest, trying to stay on topic for the first time in his life..

"Yeah, what are you doing with all of those wrappers, mom?" asks the middle child, now close enough to the door to live another day.

Like a speed of light, the oldest flies in the kitchen, grabs an apple and her keys and shoots down the hall. Closing the door behind her, she yells, "Of course she ate your chocolate. What do you think she's doing with all of those wrappers? Knitting you a sweater?....Bye, Mom!!"

Good Times.

Follow the rules today, friends. If you can't, at LEAST hide the evidence.

Hello, Kitty!

Well, it's time folks. Time to pick the winner of that cute little bag....

I need to thank everyone who entered the contest and spread the shellybean love this week. I was touched to read your comments on the blog and see all the sharing of my page on Facebook.  I feel so blessed to know each one of you.

Okay. I'll be right back....

Because playing Mario Kart means more to the youngest than drawing a name out of a jar, (how can that be?) I'll be the "picker". Do I have to do everything?

Ha! Actually no, I don't.  The man is playing photographer this evening since the eldest would rather be out with friends. What's happening to my free help? Eh.

Here we go......

Big Daddy Dave! You are the winner of the Hello Kitty bag!!! Woo Hoo!! I hope you put all of your favorite things inside it. Congratulations!!

Once again, thanks so much to all of you. Your support means everything :)

Have a wonderful weekend, friends :)

a little of this, a little of that and a GIVE-AWAY!

Hello friends!

I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of friends (both old and new) who have had so many sweet things to say about the new shellybean bags. To say that making the bags has been therapeutic for me would be a huge understatement.

I've  loved every minute of the process: from drawing up the plans with my mathematically spatial husband, to drooling over newly delivered fabric,  to sewing each piece together,  to packing each bag up and sending them off, wrapped in cute paper and sugary treats..to finally hearing from the recipient. (They are usually happy!!)

I take all of it with a grain of salt, knowing that it will never make me monetarily rich. Instead, I am creatively fulfilled. I've reconnected with and gained new friends. I've smiled knowing that the small acts of having contests or donating bags can make others happy. I am at peace and am forever grateful for the opportunities afforded me.  I'm genuinely excited to imagine what's ahead.

My personal lesson throughout the journey of the past few years? I've learned that being kind to each other never gets old. Let's face it. There are some unhappy people out there. There are some mean people out there. All of us have been there. I have been there. I have been unhappy. I have been unkind. One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that the former does not give permission for the latter. Someone always has it worse off than us even on our worst days. Some of the bravest people I know have faced loss or unfair, cruel pasts; yet these very people are amazing in finding some positive ways to grow.

I've come to see that finding some positivity in each day, laughing with others, smiling and using kind words to hold up each other can only do good. It's not being naive. It's not spreading fake, sugary rainbows all over the world with your eyes closed. It's the very opposite of being blind to the world. It's putting others before yourself. It's saying an extra nice thing to one person so they may do the same to someone else. Why would anyone be cruel when we're all fighting the same fight? It's what your mother probably told you or what your teacher tried to teach on your very first day of school. If we can't find good in ourselves some days, it should be our job to find it in another person and let them know. It's been such a long road for many of us. I for one am looking forward to what tomorrow brings. I have everyone who is in my world today to thank for that.

Ahem.

Now, enough of the sap. Let's get onto the giveaway. Once again, it will be a drawing. The drawing will close on Friday at eight p.m. mountain time.

This bag is a kimmi-bean bag made of polyester quilting and Hello Kitty Fabric. I usually work to get copyright permission to sell registered merchandise, but I'm not selling it. I'm giving it away! She is 13"wide X 9" tall and 4 inches deep. the kimmi-bean has 4 pockets- 1 in the front, two inside and a zippered pocket on the back. The purse is secured with a metal snap and has 4 very cute purse feet to hold her up. Give her a happy home, won't you ?

How to enter....Hmm.

1. Leave a comment telling the "high and low" of your day. What was the best and worst part of your day today?

2. If you're new to this blog, please, please still enter the contest.

3. As usual, if this isn't the bag for you or you can't think of someone to give it to, DON'T ENTER! If you were brought to the blog from the advice of a friend, be sure to leave their name in your comment. You will both be entered in the drawing. Bring as many friends as you like. You can be entered as many times as your name is mentioned.

4. Don't forget, if you're entering as an "anonymous" person, please leave your name or e-mail.

5. If you'd like, stick around the blog a little. You can follow it by clicking under "friends inside my computer". If you decide to follow the blog, your name will also go in the drawing. Hey, I have to find my readers somehow... :)

Any Questions? Ask away in the comment section here or on our FB page. You can "like" the page to keep up on new products, sales or give-aways. FB is a little funny about contests, so I always hold them here on the blog.

I'll leave the first comment as an example.
Good Luck friends!